Alabama legislators looking at vote on removal of state grocery tax

MONTGOMERY -- The Alabama House is to debate a proposed constitutional amendment to remove the state's 4 cent sales tax from grocery purchases.

The proposal would pay for the lost revenue by removing the deduction for federal income taxes from high income taxpayers. The proposal is opposed by Republicans who say it unfairly penalizes higher income taxpayers, including many business owners.

AARP Alabama, the Alabama Grocers Association and Alabama Arise have endorsed the proposal.

The bill is scheduled to come up for a vote in the Alabama House today. If approved by the House and Senate, the amendment would have to be approved in a statewide vote.